Proposed Collection; Comment Request

RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD

Proposed Collection; Comment Request

summary: In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of

the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which provides opportunity for

public comment on new or revised data collections, the Railroad

Retirement Board (RRB) will publish periodic summaries of proposed data

collections.

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed information

collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of

the agency, including whether the information has practical utility;

(b) the accuracy of the RRB's estimate of the burden of the collection

of the information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and

clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize

the burden related to the collection of information on respondents,

including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of

information technology.

Title and purpose of information collection: Student Beneficiary

Monitoring; OMB 3220-0123. Under provisions of the Railroad Retirement

Act (RRA), there are two types of benefits whose payment is based upon

the status of a child being a full-time student, a survivor benefit

under Section 2 and an increased retirement benefit under Section

3(f)(3).

A survivor benefit is paid directly to the student unless there is

a representative payee. The benefit for a student in a life case is

paid by increasing the retired parent's annuity rate under the overall

minimum guaranty. The requirements for obtaining benefits based on

full-time student status are prescribed in 20 CFR 219.54 and 219.55.

The RRB requires evidence of full-time school attendance in order

to determine that a child is entitled to student benefits. The RRB

utilizes the following forms to conduct its student monitoring program.

Form G-315, Student Questionnaire, obtains certification of a student's

full-time school attendance. It also obtains information on a student's

marital status, Social Security benefits, and employment which are

needed to determine entitlement or continued entitlement to benefits

under the RRA. Form G-315a, Statement by School Official of Student's

Full-time Attendance, is used to obtain verification from a school that

a student attends school full-time and provides their expected

graduation date. Form G-315a.1, Notice of Cessation of Full-Time

Attendance, is used by a school to notify the RRB that a student has

ceased full-time school attendance. Completion is required to obtain or

retain a benefit. One response is requested of each respondent.

Forms G-315, G-315a, and G-315a.1 are being revised to include

language required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. No other

changes are proposed. The completion time for the G-315 is estimated at

seven minutes per response. The completion time for the G-315a and G-

315a.1 is estimated at two minutes. The RRB estimates that

approximately 960 Form G-315's, 210 Form G-315a's and 60 Form G-

315a.1's are received annually.

additional information or comments: To request more information or to

obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms, and/

or supporting material, please call the RRB Clearance Officer at (312)

751-3363. Comments regarding the information collection should be

addressed to Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North

Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092. Written comments should be

received within 60 days of this notice.

Chuck Mierzwa,

Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 97-8868 Filed 4-7-97; 8:45 am]

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